eBooks

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On this page, you will find some helpful information for using eBooks. Included are communication toolkits, articles and places to find eBooks online. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but as a place with information to help you get started using eBooks in your school libraries. Some of the information was written for public librarian audiences, but the information might be a helpful starting point for constructing your own policies, handouts and guides.

Articles, Research and Blogs on Using E-Books in Libraries


Places to find online E-Books
Disclaimer: There are a LOT of sites out there with GENERIC online "books" which are essentially stories for children. These have been omitted from the list. If there was not a print counterpart to the book, they have not been included. Also not included are sites of videos of people reading books (like: http://www.storylineonline.net/).

This section is divided into two categories:
1. Places where you can find and DOWNLOAD ebooks onto other devices (Nook, Kindle, Tablet, etc.)
2. Online sites that let you read the book on their site

Download Sites:
  • Book Should Be Free - GREAT easy to navigate and use site that will give you audio or ebook (or sometimes BOTH) files for some of the best classics--those books out of copyright. A great children's selection and one for teens.
  • Storia
  • iTunes: You can download some nice kids book apps for the iPad and iPhone from iTunes.
  • MeeGenius Kids' Books looks to have a nice variety of free books available.
  • Open Culture has a list of 450 Free audio books, many available through iTunes. These will be chapter books and classic books - great for read-aloud or summer reading for your teen! Titles like "Hans Brinker", "Alice in Wonderland" and "Swiss Family Robinson" will appeal to a wide age range.

Online E-Book Sites:
  • Big Universe (http://www.biguniverse.com/readkidsbooks) This site has some great fiction and nonfiction reads for gr 1-6 BUT it only gives you a preview of most books unless you or your public library has a subscription.
  • Book Flix
  • Children's Books Online (http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/) this very clunky site is not child friendly but does have original SCANS of some of the best of children's literature.
  • International Children's Book Library (http://www.icdlbooks.org/) The goal of ICDL is to create a digital library of more than 10,000 books in at least 100 languages that is freely available to children, teachers, librarians, parents, and scholars throughout the world via the Internet.However, this site is hard to navigate and with not all stories in english, and some not so popular choices, this should be a low priority site.
  • Kids Aol (http://kids.aol.com/KOL/1/KOLJrStories) Includes several Arthur stories, fairy tales and a few other generic stories. Rather small site for a big name.
  • Oxford Owl (http://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/Library/Index/?AgeGroup=1) Oxford Press's selection of books (fiction and nonfiction) for grades K-4, offers e-books and sometimes an audio book download.
  • Read.Gov Another site with classic or out of copyright books that you can read on screen.
  • Sesame Street (http://ebooks.sesamestreet.org/free/) Only a few and they seem to change each week.
  • Tumble Books (http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp) This site which you must access through a public library has a lot of fun interactive picture books and is constantly adding more new ones. Both fiction and nonfiction at the PreK - 4 level.
  • We Give Books (http://www.wegivebooks.org/) One of the best sites for online reading it has MANY MANY great completely FREE wonderful books and it is constantly adding more. Best for PreK-4 they also try to theme the books to meet current demand (like Thanksgiving or Back to School).

Other Sites:
  • Barnes and Nobles Online Storytime (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/online-storytime-books-toys/379003588/) This shows video clips of authors or readers reading the book to the audience. Kissing Hand, Pinkalicious, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie are just a few of the 16 great books.
  • Google Books (books.google.com)
  • Harper Collins Browse Inside (http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/browseinsidemain.aspx) This site is constantly offering NEW previews to some of their newest books, sometimes just a taste and others 100% access. The catch, they are not static. Today I found Beezus and Ramona but who knows what you will find when you check it out.
  • Netgalley (netgalley.com) For librarians only and it does require registration. This site will offer you some great upcoming or "galley" e-reads to preview before you buy.
  • Redeo (Readeo.com) Subscription service. Readeo takes a Skype-like video chat and adds over 150 of the best children’s books for an experience that keeps kids’ attention longer, fosters a love of reading and lets you share story time no matter how far apart you are. We call it BookChatting. And it lets you stay connected with the children you love whether you’re a traveling parent, a long-distance grandparent, a family separated by divorce or a member of the military.

Also consider signing up for one of these great newsletters that post about FREE E-Books DAILY!!!

How to find FREE Nook and Kindle Books:


Additional Helpful Information